Indexing and drive mechanism



March 11, 1952 s. J. GARTNER ET AL INDEXING AND DRIVE MECHANISM 4Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed Dec. 19, 1945 m T N H W.

THE/R HTI'OR/VE) March 1952 5. J. GARTNER ET AL 2,538,977

INDEXING AND DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN701w. 57A/VL 57}. GARTNER PAUL G. P/L KIA/701V THE/R 1477'0R/VEV March11,.1952 5. J. GARTNER ET AL 2,588,977,

INDEXING AND DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet :s

' IN V EN TORS. STANLE) J GART/VER P40L 6. P/LK/A/T 01V WQ/ V AM THE/RATTORNEY March 11, 1952 sf J. GARTNER El AL v v2,583,977

' INDEXING AND DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 isQ-r. m 1 INVENTORS. l smwLzyu. GARTNER PHUL a. PlL/fl/VTO/V PatentedMar. 11, 1952 INDEXING AND DRIVE MECHANISM Stanley J. Gartner and PaulG. Pilkinton, Em-

porium, Pa., assignors to Sylvania Electric Products, Inc., acorporation of Massachusetts Application December 19, 1945, Serial No.635,889

This invention relates to a carriage or turret mounted for intermittentangular movement about a vertical axis, and more particularly to a novelindexing and locking mechanism. Although adaptable to generalapplication, the in- 5 Claims. (Cl. 74-112) vention, as herein shown anddescribed, is em.

bodied in a machine for use in the radio tube industry and, moreparticularly, to an automatic machine by means of which terminal pinsare sealed into and an exhaust tube fused to the glass header whichforms an end closure of a vacuum tube.

A turret for the purpose just above specified because of the severaloperations to be performed, each at a different station, and thenecessity of large capacity for economic production, is required to beof rather large diameter. And, furthermore, although such a carrier ismade of the lightest possible metal consistent with strength andrigidity of construction, the many attachments and mountings thereongive it considerable weight.

The turret carries a plurality, thirty in this instance, of regularlyspaced, circumferentially arranged spindles each independently rotatableabout its own axis. A workpiece comprising a perforated glass waferorshallow cup is placed on these spindles in any suitable manner as theysuccessively arrive at what may be termed a first or loading station andthe finished assembly is automatically removed after all operations havebeen completed.

During the cycle of intermittent movements automatic operations areperformed at predetermined stations by mechanism timed, of course, withthe indexing devices. Also, throughout a considerable portion of thecycle, high heat flames are directed against the work from burnersarranged radially and coincident with the radial lines of the turret inwhich the spindles are located.

In order to obtain the best results the work should be prevented fromcooling to a degree that fusing of the glass to metal stops whilepassing from the flame of one burner to that of the next. Thus the timeinterval allowed for each intermittent movement of the turret must bshort, The accomplishment of this in a simple and effective manner is anobject of the present invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of devices foraccomplishing precision in the high speed indexing of a heavy turret,starting and stopping rotation without jar, and locking the turretduring each stoppin period against the slightest movement for thereasons that perfect mating of parts at the several operating stations za must be maintained and to prevent breaking of the work which, it willbe understood, is of a fragile nature. I

A further object of the invention is to mount the turret upon a housingproviding :a chamber wherein the indexing mechanism and its operatingmeans are entirely submerged in oil, to provide an hydraulic cushionfunctioning to absorb the shock as the turret is intermittently broughtto a stop, and to make use of oil within the housing chamber as thefluid employed by the hydraulic cushioning means.

To these and other ends the invention consists of certain parts andcombinations of parts as will be fully set forth in the followingdescription and particularly defined in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings, illustrating, as hereinabove stated, theinvention as embodied in a machine adapted to be used in the manufactureof radio receiving tubes for the assembly and sealing of an evacuationtube and terminalpins in the press member or header of a tube, are asfollows:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine with parts broken away toshow details of construction, and showing only such portions of thesuper structure and parts surrounding the turret as may be necessary toillustrate in a general way the functions performed at successivestations to which the turret is indexed during its cycle.

Fig. 2 is a View drawn to a larger scale and showing a portion of themachine partly in side elevation and partly in vertical central section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. the gears beingshown in full.

Fig. 4 is a still more greatly enlarged fragmentary plan view showinggraphically the indexing and locking mechanism in one position in fulllines and in dotted lines in another position.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the indexing and locking mechanism drawn toa smaller scale than that of Fig. 4, the indexing cams and arms actuatedthereby also being shown.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view online 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Figs. '7 and 8 are parallel sectional details on lines 1-! and 8--8,respectively, of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the completed.

refer to similar parts throughout the several 7 its inner end and theextra length cut off.

The header referred to is shown as a glass wafer or disc 2 having acentral aperture 3 opening into the stem which comprises an elongatedtubing 4. In a circle concentric with the opening 3 are a plurality ofapertures for receiving the pins I while the peripheral edge of the discis turned down to provide a depending, reinforcing flange which later isjoined with a cylindrical glass envelope to form the bottom portionthere- .o aPr tu eran es 6 Surrounding the P ns a d formed during a.pressing operation give additional support for the pins I.

We shall now describe out new machine for ,forming the above describedheader and par These spindles are each mounted to rotate independentlyabout a vertical axis on bearings located in spaced horizonfiallyextending top and bottom annular flanges II and I2, respectively,extending outwardly from the side wall of the turret I to form anoutwardly opening channel I3.

Each spindle B carries at its upper end a lower mold I5 of a pair ofpress members.

Thereis shown in plan view, Fig. l, a plurality o hop e 5 f r s pa ycontainin a up ly of terminal pins which may be of different lengths,these hoppers are supported upon a standard indicated at 52. A feedtube, not shown, for the pins I leads from each hopper and when a pin e8 i at s at n A echan m is t ated f or suitably feeding a pin I intoeach of the ape u es n th m d From station A the particular spindle towhich reference is being made is advanced ,counter clockwise by ,asuccession of intermittent movement .efi ct d y ou i proved dexinmechanism to station B. At several of the intervening stops betweenstations A and B" the spindles 8, While not held against axial rotation,

are not being positively driven due to their sprockets 28 being out ofmesh with the chain 46.

This is the loading zone where the operator by means of a pair of tongspicks up a preheated glass disc 2 from the discharge end of a chute orother source of work supply and places it on the mold I5 and over thepins I which are upstanding from the mold.

From station B to station C the spindles are intermittently advanced andwhile transversing this zone, and independently rotating about theiraxes, the work thereon is heated by flames directed at. it from burners,one of which is indicated at 6|, these burners being supported by asegmental frame memberfiZ partly surrounding the housing H9 is a borefor receiving a shoulis not stopped, a stem 4 is placed endwise on thewafer 2 fused to it to form an integral unit, the stem being receivedfrom a supply hopper 61 by a carrier 63 which turns it to an uprightposition whence it is grasped by a spring retractable pivoted arm 69 andswung to alignment with the axis of the spindle.

The second intermittent stop beyond station 0 is at station E Where thespindle is locked against rotation, and a press, indicated generally bynumeral III, Fig. 1, is carried by a fixed arm II extending radiallyfrom the center post I2 of the machine. This press includes an upper:gnold, not shown, which mates with the lower of stemsfl at station Cand at the intermediate stop D between stations C and E. This press andpre-press device forms subject matter of a copending application SerialNo. 634,420, filed December 12, 1945, and, for that reason, itisbelieved a more detailed description thereof in this specification isunnecessary.

From station E the work is intermittently advanced to station F wherethe spindle '8 is locked against rotation and gripping fingers "I5 clampthe stem 4 of the finished Work-piece, lift the work ofi the mold I5and, by means of a swinging arm I6 pivoted at 11, deposit it onto adischarge chute, not shown. At the next stop, indicated at G and beingthe one intermediate the unloading station F and the starting or tableincludes a top I'I2, a depending peripheral flange II3 providing askirt, and radial lugs II4 extending inwardly from the flange to restupon and be secured to the legs I I I. The top '2 is formed with anannular channel I I 5 adjacent its outer periphery, a portion of the top.I I2 being cut away to provide an opening H6 through which certainparts associated with the turret I 7 may engage the indexing mechanismbeneath top 2, as will be explained.

Secured to the'under side of the table top II2 by screws H1 is a plateH3 comprising a cover .for a housing II9 having a flange I20 which'bywhich provides a side pocket or chamber I23 in communication with thehousing chamber proper I24, as shown inFigure 5. Hub portions on thecover plate H8 and the bottom wall of the housing are bored to receiveaxially aligned ball bear ings I25 and I26, respectively, in which isjournalled a vertically extending shaft I21, the hub on plate IIB beingcapped by a ring I28 and that on the bottom wall by an oil tight sealindicated generally by the numeral I29. In the side wall of deredbushing I30 in which is a bearing sleeve I 3| for a horizontallyextending shaft I32, the latter extending outwardly from the, housingthrough a packing gland I33 and carrying a pulley I34.

An electric motor I35 is supported upon a shelf I36. Fixed to the motorshaft is a pulley I31 which through the medium of a belt I38 and thepulley I34 drives the shaft, I32. Fixed to the shaft I32 within thehousing or gear box H9 is a worm gear I39 which drives a worm wheel I40keyed to the shaft I21 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Also keyed toshaft I21 and spaced therefrom by a sleeve MI is a helical gear I42which drives a like gear I43 fixed to the shaft 58 also mounted torotate in sealed bearings in the housing II9. This shaft 58, see Fig. l,carries a plurality of cams, indicated generally by the numeral I45,which actuate rocker arms I46 operatively connected, but in a manner notshown, to

I the pin feed and other mechanisms hereinabove referred to asfunctioning at the several operating stations of the turret. Also keyedto shaft I21 intermediate the top bearing I25 and worm wheel I40 arethree plate cams I41, I48, and I49 which control the indexing mechanismnow to be described.

The spindle carrier or turret 1 is a rigidly constructed casting havingbesides the spaced annular flanges II and I2 which support the spindles8, a bottom wall I50 stepped down to form a flat annular portion IIadjacent its outer periphery which latter terminates in a dependingflange I 52 encircling the skirt portion I20 of the housing II9. And,upstanding from the bottom wall portions I59 and I5I are a plurality ofregularly spaced radial ribs I53 extending from a hub I54 to an annular,outer vertical wall I55 which connectsthe horizontal flanges II and I2.The turret is rotatably supported .by axially spaced tapered rollerbearings I56 and I51 on a tubular bearing member I58 seated in the topwall I I 2 of the table in axial alignment with shaft I21 and havingaflange which by screws I59 is secured to such tabletop. At the lower endof the hub I54 is an oil seal I60 while its outer end is capped by aring I6I. A sheet metal plate I62 covers the openings in the turretbetween the ribs I53 and secured to the upper end of the fixed bearingmember I58 is the flanged lower endof the center post 12 which carriesthe press arm 1I Fig. 1.

Extending vertically through the flat portion I5I of the turret 1 are aplurality of regularly spaced, circumferentally arranged studs I63,there being one for each spindle 8. Each stud is held in place by a nutI64 threaded on its outer end and on its inner end carries a hardenedsteel roller I65. These rollers, as the turret revolves, travel in thechannel H5 in the upper surface of top I I2. They extend down throughopening I I6 in top II2 whereby the rollers may engage oper-' atingelements of the indexing mechanism.

Mounted to rotate in ball bearings I66 and I61 seated in the housing II9 and its cover plate I I8,

respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 6, is a short shaft I68 to which ispinned the hub portion of a tween radii passing through two adjacentrollers I65 and whose axis is the fulcrum point I68;

Through the outer arm of the lever I69 is a rectangular opening I12 forreceiving a slide or carriage block I13 having an outwardly opening slotI14 to provide a forked end on the block which successively engages therollers I65. The block I13 is adjustably secured upon a pair of parallelrods I15 by set screws I16 Fig. 5, the rods spanning the opening I12 andbeing slidable in bushed openings in opposing walls thereof.

In the bottom face of carriage block I13 is a cam slot I11 concentricwith shaft I68 for receiving the follower I18 on one arm of a twoarmedlever I19 pivoted on a stud I upstanding from the housing part I22, asshown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The other arm of lever I19 through anadjustable link IBI is connected to one arm of a bellcrank lever I82pivoted on a stud I83 upstanding from the housing II9, the other arm ofthis lever carrying a follower I84 which engages the side walls of a camslot I85 cut in the under face of cam I49.

The indexing slide I13 and that port-ion of the lever I69 upon which itis mounted operate within the side pocket I23 of the housing and alsowithin this lateral pocket is a generally similar slide I86 for lockingthe turret against rotation, this slide also being slotted at I 81 toprovide a bifurcated end for engaging the rollers I65 and. by set screwsI88, being adj-ustably secured upon parallel rods I89 slidable inopposing side walls of a U-shaped bracket I90 secured by screws I9I tothe bottom wall of the housing part Il22. This locking slide is movedradially in and out by means of a link connection with one arm of asecond bellcrank lever I92 also pivoted on the 1 stud I83 with the otherarm of such lever carrying a follower I93 which engages the side wallsof a cam slot I94 in the upper face of cam I48. The link connection justabove referred to includes a clevis I95 pivoted to the slide at I96, arod I91 adjustably threaded into the clevis, a cylindrical member I98having an end wall the inner face of which is normally engaged by a headI 99 on said rod, a connnector 200 pivoted to the first named arm of thebellcrank and having a flanged coupling with the other end of thecylindrical section, and a coiled compression spring 20I within thelatter interposed between the head I99 and the connector 200. Thus thereis provvided a positive connection between the cam actuated lever andthe slide I86 for moving the latter out of engagement with a roller I65and a flexible connection when moving the slide outwardly to straddle aroller so that the locking means moves into operative position with acushioning effect and with the assurance of perfect engagement.

Operation of the indexing mechanism as so far described is as follows:

Assuming that the turret is locked and about to be indexed to the nextposition, members I13 and I86, will be in the respective positionillustrated in Fig. 5. Then, with shaft I21 turning counterclockwise,rotation of cam I49 will, through its consequent actuation of lever I82,link- I8I, and lever I19, cause outward movement of the sliding blockI13 into engagement with a roller I65 as shown in full lines in Fig. 4,it being understood that in this movement the longitudinal center linethrough the block lies coincident with a radial line passing through theaxis of the roller to be engaged and the fulcrum the throw of the leveris the included angle befl! I68 of lever I69. After this operation.rotation of cam .=:I:48- effects actuation of lever 182 which,

through:its.li nk connection with sliding block 186, causeSmovement oithe latter from operative to inoperative position, that is, from thelocking position in which it is shown in dotted lines at 1.86 in'Fig. 4and in full lines in :Fig. 5, .to the position shown in full lines inFig. 4. During engagement of one sliding member and disengagement of theother with respective rollers 1'65, .the turret has, it will beobserved, by one :such memberor the other, been securely locked against.rotary displacement but is at this time readyfor theindexing movement.

This indexing is efiected by a throw-of the lever I69 by means of thecam I 41 from the full line position, in which it is shown in Fig. 4, tothe .adotted-line position indicated at ide in Fig. 4, the

sliding member I13, being in engagement with a roller I65 and carried bythe lever lfie, becoming the 'direct connection for rotating the turretthrough an angular movement equal to that between :radial lines of theturret passing through the axial centers of two adjacent rollers I 65.At the completion of each such indexing of the turret, the slide I86 ismoved radially outward-to its dotted line position E86 Fig. 4, but inlocking engagement withtthe next roller I65 following the one from whichit was previously disengaged. And whereupon the indexing slide I73, byaction of its operating .cam I49 is disengaged from its roller I65 andretracted radially of lever 566 from its dotted line position at I'l3Fig. 4, to the full line position shown in Fig. 5. Thus the indexing andlocking devices are in position to repeat the operations for the nextindexing of the turret. Movement of slide I 86 into locking engagementwith a roller I65 is cushioned by action of the spring 20l within thetubular housing I88 of its link connection with lever E92, thespringthus sustaining any jar and assuring perfect contact of the rollerwith the bottom of the slot I 81. And, by havingfollower H8, which isthe pivotal connection between lever I'l9 and the indexing carriagemember Il3', movable in the curved channel I", proper articulation ofthe swinging arm I69 and the linkage comprising levers I79, link IN, andlever I82 is maintained.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the indexing mechanism and operating meanstherefor are submerged in oil. This oil ,substantially fills the chamberI24 of housing I26, its side pocket I23 and, through the opening I56,iills the channel II5 sufiiciently to lubricate the rollers I65.

Although the indexing mechanism operates in a manner to smoothly efiectthe rapid intermittent movements of a heavy turret, we have provided anhydraulic cushioning means for allowing the turret to come to an easystop without jarring or backlash. To this end an oil cylinder comprisingan outer casing 262 and a fixed inner sleeve 203 is secured by screws264, as illustrated in Figs. '5, '7, 8 and 9 to the housing II9 withinthe side pocket I23. A'piston 205, slidable in the sleeve 203, isreciprocated by a rod 266 pivoted at one end thereto and at its otherend to a pin carried by the lever I69. The oil intake to the cylinder inrear of the plunger is through port 268 in the cylinder head 269 whichcommunicates with a supply pipe m the latter including check valve 3!!)and pressure regulator 3H2; receiving oil from the bottom of the chamberI24 through the lateral 2 II (Figure 2) which in turn connects also withthe main oil supply line 2I2. An inwardly opening, comparatively wideannular groove in the casing 202 and a like opposing :groove in thesleeve 203 provides an annular channel .2I3 within the .cylinder wall.Communicating with this channel are opposing lateral openings 2Mextending through both the sleeve and the cylinder casing. And, beyondthe openings 214 toward the head end of the cylinder, but within thearea of the channel 2I3 is a smaller aperture'2l5 through the sleevecommunicating with the channel and thence through slightly larger ducts2 I 5 in the casing wall to the chamber I24.

Thus, movement of the lever i69 .to index the turret causes an inwardmovement of the piston 265, anopposing pressure on the piston beingestablished due to oil being prevented from bein forced backward throughpipe 2W into chamber I24 .by the check valve SID therein. The initialressure is reduced however because of oil escapclosed by the piston andthe escaping oil is forced through the smaller orifice 2I5, channel H3and ducts 2I16, the maximum pressure being established after theaperture 2I5 has been closed and the piston nears the completion of itsstroke which ends when the indexing movement is completed, this finalpressure being determined by adjustment of the pressure regulator 312which relieves excess pressure through a side vent into housing I24.

From the foregoing it will be observed that this invention providesmeans for effecting rapidly, precisely and without jar the indexing of arotatably mounted heavy turret and a positive locking of the turretwhile at rest. 7

Although we have shown and escribed particular embodiments of ourinvention, we do not desire to be limited to the embodiments described,and we intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which donot depart from the spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim is: 1

1. The combination, with a rotatably mounted turret. including a wallportion and a plurality of projections from said wall portion regularlyspaced in .a circle concentric with the axis .of the turret, of anindexing and locking mechanism for said turret comprising two slidingmembers, means providing .a support along which one of said slidingmembers is guided ior reciprocating movement into and out of lookingengagement with one of said projections a lever, means providing a pivotfor said lever for movement in a plane parallel to that of the turret,guiding means carried by said lever and rigidly mounted thereon alongwhich the other of said sliding members is guided for reciprocatorymovement along said lever into and out of locking engagement withanother of said projections, means for effecting a throw of said leverin one direction to index the turret a distance equal to the angularspacing between two adjacent ones of said projections when the saidslide thereon is in lockingposition and for moving said lever in theopposite direction when the said slide is in unlocked position, andmeans for effecting reciprocation of each of said sliding membersindependently of .the throw of "said lever. I" 2. The combination with asupport and a turret mounted upon said support to rotate about avertical axis, a plurality of vertically extending cylindricalprojections carried by .said .tur-

- ret and regularly spaced angularly .in a :circle the turret, means fordriving said shaft and three cams fixed to and axially spaced on saidshaft, of indexing and locking mechanism for said turret including anindexing lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to said support foroscillating movement, said fulcrum being in a radial line of said turretmidway between two adjacent ones of said projections, a follower on onearm 4. A turret mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, a hollowhousing beneath said turret containing mechanism for indexing saidturret about in a number of regular steps, said mechanism including alever pivoted to swing about a vertical axis and carrying means forreleasably engaging said turret to efiect its movement, a fluid cylindermounted within said housing and having a number of fluid escape openingsalong its length, a piston within said cylinder connected to said lever,said cylinder being covered by lubricating liquid within said housing,at least one of said openings being connected to a check valve and apressure regulator whereby the braking eiTect, on said lever, of themovement of said piston within said cylinder in one direcframe partradially of said turret, and the other i to said support and having afollower on one arm thereof in operative engagement with another of saidcams, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said support and having afollower on one arm engaging the walls of said carriage slot, and anadjustable link connecting the other arm of said last named lever andsaid bellcrank, and means for reciprocating said radially movablecarriage comprising a second bellcrank lever pivoted to said support, afollower on one arm of said lever in operative engagement with the thirdone of said cams, and an adjustable connection between the other arm ofsaid lever and said radially movable carriage, the two said carriagesmoving alternately into locking engagement with respective ones of saidprojections one to index said turret and the other to lock the turretagainst rotary movement.

tion may be controlled relative to the movement in the other direction.1

5. A turret mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, a hollow housingbeneath said turret containing mechanism for indexing said turret aboutin a number of regular steps, said mechanism including a lever pivotedto swing about a vertical axis and carrying means for releasablyengaging said turret to eiiect its movement, a fluid cylinder mountedwithin said housing and having a number of fluid escape openings alongits length, a piston within said cylinder connected to said lever, saidcylinder being covered by lubricating liquid Within said housing, anopening at the end of said cylinder being connected to a check valve anda pressure regulator whereby the braking effect, on said lever, of themovement of said piston within said cylinder in one direction may becontrolled. relative to the movement in the other direction.

3. A turret mounted to rotate about a vertical 9 STANLEY J. GARTNER.PAUL G. PILKINTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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